Tripod-mounting for automatic guns.



A. T. DAWSON G. T. BUOKHAM. TRIPOD MOUNTING FOB. AUTOMATIC GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14,1910. v

' Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

A. T. DAWSON & G. T BUGKHAMP TRIPOD MOUNTING FOB. AUTOMATIC GUNS.

AIKPLIOA'TION rump JULY 14.1910.

Patented Apr.'14-, 1914.

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- A. T. DAWSON & G. T. BUGKHAM.

TRIPOD MOUNTING FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 14, 1910.

Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET a.

we rz/Z'o As w v 07am A. T. DAWSON & G.T. BUGKHAM. TRIPOD MOUNTING FOR AUTOMATIC QUN S.

APILIOATION FILED JULY 14, 1910.

Patented Apr. 14, 1914.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

whatever UNITED STATES PATENT OFFYIQQE.

ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON AND GEORGE THOMAS BUGKI-IAM, OF WESTMINSTER, LON- DON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNORS TO VIOKERS LIMITED, 015 WES'IEMINSTER, ENG-Ialalil'I).

TRIPOD-MOUNTING FOR AUTOMATIC GUNS.

Specification of. Letters ZEatent.

Patented Apr. 14, 1am.

Application filed :iui 14, 1910. Serial No. 571,887.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, .ARTHUR TREVOR Dawson, knight, and GEORGE THo As BUoKHAM, both subjects of the King of Great Britain, residing at 32 Victoria street, Westminster, in the county of London, England, have invented certain new. and .useful Improvementsin Tripod-Mountings for Automatic Guns, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relatesto tripod mountings for automatic guns, and is more particularly applicable to mountings of the 'kind in which the gun is trunnioned in .a

top carriage which is capable of lateral displacement for training about a pivot carried by the frame or casing to which the trail and the front legs of the tripod are pivotally attached, the said trail and the front legs being connected with gearing contained in the aforesaid frame or casing which enables the adjustment of the trail and legs to be effected simultaneously within Wide limits.

When mountings of this kind are employed on sloping ground and after the elevating gear has been operated to bring the sights on the object, the aforesaid pivot about which the gun moves laterally is not vertical, with the result that the muzzle of the gun does not move in a horizontal plane during training.

According to the present invention the training pivot about which the gun moves laterally is made adjustable with respect to the frame carrying the trail and front legs of the tripod, so that the said pivot can be set in the vertical position and enable the gun to be trained in a' horizontal plane be the slope of the ground upon which the tripod is standing. The aforesaid top carriage with its elevating gear and a member carrying the training are, may be mounted in guides formed on the frame or' casing containing the adjusting gear for the trail and front legs of the tripod. The said training are member may be formed with, a bearing to receive the training pivot which may be suitably connected to the upper carriage. Thetraining angles are marked on the training arc, and in order to limit the training movement of the gun between any desired points, two

stops may be provided which are adjustably mounted on the training arc.

In order that our said invention may be clearly understood and readily carried into effect, we will describe the same more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a side elevation partly in section of the mounting constructed in accordance with the present invention. Fig. 1 is a section on the line 1, 1, of Fig. 1.

Fig.2 is a plan with the gun removed from the mounting. Fig. 3 is a side elevation partly in section showing the position' of the parts when the mounting is standing on ground sloping at an angle about 45, the training pivot having been adjusted so that it occupies a vertical position. Fig. 4: is a diagrammatic view showing on'a smaller scale the gun and itsmounting in the position illustrated in Fig. 3. Fig. 5 is a plan of the training are showing the adjustable stops. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on the line 1, 1, of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a plan showing a portion of the mounting and the handle for actuating the adjusting mechanism of the trail and legs. Fig. 8 is a similar view with the handle removed and the ammunition tray or box substituted therefor.

A is the gun mounted on the pivot pin or trunnion A, B is the top carriage, B is the elevating screw carried thereby, C is the training are member, D is the frame or casing formed with a bearing to carry the training pivot B of the top carriage B, E is the trail and E E are the front legs of the tripod, and F, F, F are respectively the screw, the crosshead, and the actuating handle appertaining to the adjustable gear for the said trail and legs.

The aforesaid frame or casing D comprises two side plates which are formed at their upper portions with curved guides 61 for the reception of the training are member C which is formed with flanges as shown in Fig. 1 The training are member also carries a clamping device G which may be of the eccentric type actuated by'the handle C", the said clamping device cooperating with an are D on the frame or casing D to securely retain the top carriage B and ,the training are member 0 in the adjusted position with the training pivot vertical. The said are D may be formed with serrations to insure a better grip being obtained between the member C (Fig. 1*) carried by the clamping device, and the are D. The frame or casing D is provided with wheels G mounted on an axle G to which two cranks g g are connected, the said cranks being mounted in the frame or casing D in the manner previously proposed by us so that the wheels can be adjusted relatively to the mounting; these wheels and the means for adjusting them do not form part of our present invention.

The training arc C has the training angles marked thereon, and in order to limit the lateral movement of the gun between any two predetermined points on this are two spring controlled plungers 0 0 (Figs. 2, 5 and 6) are carried by casings 0 c which are adjustably mounted on the arc C Each of the plungers c is under the control of a spring 0 the lower end of which bears upon a studc fixed in the casing o, the plunger 0 being formed with a slot 0 to allow for the vertical movement of the said plunger over the stud 0 The are C is formed with teeth on the lower part of its periphery and with these teeth a projection c on each of the spring plungers c is normally adapted to engage, the casings 0 being thereby held in the desired position on the are C and act as stops to limit the lateral movements of the gun. When it is desired to adjust one or other of the casings 0 on the said train ing arc the plunger 0 is depressed against the resistance of its spring 0* thereby moving the projection 0 out of engagement with the teeth on the arc and rendering the casing 0 free to be moved to the required position on the said arc, whereupon when the pressure on the plunger 0 is released, the projection c reengages with the teeth on the arc C and the casing 0 is held rigid therewith as aforesaid. The top carriage B is adapted to be clamped to the training are C in any desired position by means of a handle C appertaining to the usual eccentric clamping device.

By means of our improved arrangement if the tripod mounting should be standing upon sloping ground and thus cause the training pivot to lie at an inclination the said pivot can be readily caused to assume the vertical by loosening the clamping clevice C and turning the upper carriage and training are about the curved guides (Z of the frame or casing D, after which the clamping device is tightened again to secure the parts in this position with the training pivot vertical.

It is desirable in order that the feed mechanism shall not have to lift a long and 0011- sequently heavy portion of the belt of cartridges for the said belt not to come into contact with the ground; forthis purpose we provide an ammunition tray or box L (Figs. 4 and 8) adapted to be mounted on the hexagonal spindle L of the trail and leg adjusting mechanism. The actuating handle L of said mechanism is provided with a spring controlled catch Z (Fig. 7 having a hook shaped end Z which engages in one or other ofa series of holes or recesses Z in the spindle L, the latter being formed with an axial hole for the reception of the said catch Z. The ammunition tray or box L (Figs. 4 and 8) is furnished with a boss L provided witha spring controlled catch Z" similar to the aforesaid catch Z of the handle L and adapted toengage in one of the holes or recesses Z on the spindle L. When the handle L is not in use it may be carried by a pin or the like on the frame or casing D, the catch Z serving to retain it in position by engaging with a suitable depression in the said pin. It will be understood that the handle L of Fig. 7 has the same function as the handle F of Fig. 2.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is 1. In a tripod mounting for automatic guns, the combination of a top carriage, a training pivot, a trail and legs, an adjusting gear for the said trail and legs, a casing carrying said adjusting gear, and guides on said casing upon which the said top carriage and the training pivot can be adjusted with respect to the said casing to cause the said pivot to occupy a vertical position.

2. In a tripod mounting for automatic guns, the combination of a top carriage, a training pivot, a trail and legs, an adjusting gear for the said trail and legs, a casing carrying said adjusting gear and comprising side plates provided with curved guides, a training arc, and a member carrying said training arc and engaging in said curved guides.

3. In a tripod mounting for automatic guns, the combination of a top carriage, a training pivot, a trail and legs, an adjusting gear for the said trail and legs, a casing carrying said adjusting gear and comprising side plates provided with curved guides, a training arc, a member carrying said training arc and engaging in said curved guides, and a clamping device for retaining said training are member in the adjusted position.

4. In a tripod mounting for automatic guns, the combination of a training pivot of the gun, a trail and legs, means whereby the said pivot can be adjusted with respect t0 the mounting to oc'ciipy a vertical posi- In testimony whereof We affix our signa= tion when the mounting is standing on tnres in presence of two Witnesses.

sloping ground, a receptacle for the ammu- ARTHUR TREVOR DAWSON. nition belt gear for adjusting said trail GEORGE THOMAS BUCKHAM. and legs, said gear including a spindle, and Witnesses:

means for detachably connecting the said HENRY KING,

receptacle to the said spindle. ERNEST E. LARKINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. G. 

